Tree beside the Moor Road (6 years of blips)

My partner has a craft fair today. However, as the wind has dropped, I go out for an 80 km bike ride in the morning. A bit cold, frost on the cars, but the roads are ice free. I cycle out to Bush and Penicuik and up on to the Moor Road to West Linton. I stop about 1/4 of the way to get my main blip of a tree bedside the road (the Pentland Hills are in the background). Compared to Thursday, the moor road has barely a breeze, and I cycling about 5mph faster.

Then it's on to West Linton, and on to the Bogsbank road down to Romannobridge, and join the B7509. Near the end of the road is Drochil Castle (Extra 1). The temperature is rising, it feels very nice in the sunshine., Then its down to the A72, which I follow east to Lyne.

From Lyne, I cycle over the Meldons (Extra 2) to Eddleston, time to head home. There is a slight breeze by now. I head up A703, and on to the Falla toll road to Gladhouse. In the shade on the switchbacks, it is very cold.the road climbs up back in to the sunshine. I mull over going past Gladhouse reservoir, but it passes, I carry on north to the Top Gear Road. Then its along the B6372, the top Gear road, to the B7026. A nice long and fast descent down to Auchendinny. I need to save my energy to head up Auchendinny Brae, max gradient 11% and the A701, before rejoining the A703, the Seafield Moor Rd back to Hillend and home. In all, just over 80 km, 50 miles.

The ride can be seen at Relive here.

In the afternoon, its down to Out of the Blue to the Maker's Marque craft fair to give some moral support, and coffee.

Work tomorrow.